Women's Rugby World Cup Final Brought £48.5M to London

More than 81,000 fans roaring in one stadium can do more than break records—it can transform an entire city's economy.

The 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium brought £48.5 million to London's economy, making it the biggest financial contributor among all women's sporting events held in the capital last year. England's Red Roses defeated Canada 33-13 in front of a sold-out crowd of 81,885 people, setting a new world record for women's rugby match attendance.

The economic impact didn't stop at the stadium gates. City Hall reports that London hosted 13 major women's sporting events throughout 2025, generating a combined £54.7 million for the local economy.

The final's television viewership matched its in-person success. BBC recorded 5.8 million peak viewers, making it the most-watched women's rugby union game on UK television.

More than 223 million people worldwide tuned in to watch London's women's sporting events in 2025. That global audience put the city firmly on the map as a premier destination for women's athletics.

The Ripple Effect

The numbers tell a story bigger than one spectacular match. Hotels filled with traveling fans, restaurants served record crowds, and local businesses saw a surge in activity that lasted well beyond the final whistle.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan celebrated the milestone, calling London "the undisputed global capital for women's sport" and highlighting how these events provide significant economic boosts. The 2025 calendar included not only the rugby final but also the historic return of women's tennis to the Queen's Club.

Women's sports are proving what advocates have long argued: when you give female athletes world-class venues and proper promotion, fans show up in record numbers. The sell-out crowd at Twickenham wasn't an anomaly but evidence of genuine, growing demand.

The economic data backs up what fans already know—investing in women's sports pays dividends for everyone.